1Department of Fruit Science, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
2Department of Horticulture, Visva-Bharati, West Bengal, India
3Department of Plant breeding & Genetics, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
*Corresponding author e-mail: swarnalata1967@rediffmail.com
Online published on 15 April, 2017.
In the present investigation 22 dessert banana genotypes were evaluated under coastal plain zone of Odisha during the year 2013–14 and 2104–15 in a randomized block design with three replications. Observations were recorded on growth parameters and yield attributing traits. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences among the genotypes in respect of all the growth parameters and yield attributing traits. The PCV and GCV (phenotypic and genotypic coefficient variation) were higher for finger weight, bunch weight and number of fingers. Bunch girth and finger weight had very high broad sense heritability (h2). Finger weight recorded the highest genetic advance followed by bunch weight. All the genotypes, on the basis of total variability were grouped into twelve distinct clusters. Maximum number of cultivars was accommodated in Cluster 1 followed by Cluster 7. Inter cluster distance was the highest between cluster 12 and cluster 7. Bunch girth made the maximum contribution to divergence (45.02%) followed by finger weight (39.83%).
Improvement of banana genotypes in respect of number of hands/bunch, number of fingers/bunch, finger length, finger weight and bunch weight would be rewarding as these traits had high GCV and PCV along with high heritability and high genetic advance.
Maximum inter cluster distance was observed between cluster 12 and cluster 9.
Grand Naine of cluster 12 may be crossed with genotypes of cluster 9 through somatic hybridisation/sexual hybridization to develop superior transgressive segregants or heterotic hybrids.
Banana, PCV, GCV, heritability, genetic advance, PCA, D2 analysis
